Heroine for Democracy

Aung San Suu Kyi, Democracy Champion

The Oppressed Burmese People

Than Shwe, The Dictator

So small. So meek. So powerful. Amidst the 40 year cruelty of a combination military junta and China playing eminence grise in her beloved country, Burma aka Myanmar, Nobel Laurete Aung San Suu Kyi (pictured above) stands up bravely and stubbornly for her brutalized people.

For 15 of the past 21 years, this frail charismatic woman, has been under "house arrest" for trumped up charges of subversive political activism by Senior General Than Shwe (pictured above) and his "look-a-like think-a-like" thugs. Away from her people, her constituency and her family, Aung has remained steadfast in her vision of a democratic and open Burma. Sadly for the Burmese people and Aung, the generals don't agree. They continue to starve, imprison, torture and murder their own people for the slightest offense.

She doesn't have hope anymore after all these years. Who can blame her. She calls hope a frivolous indulgence. However, in light of that, Aung seemingly subscribes to the mantra recited by Buddha, "be patient" as time unfolds...for this too shall pass.

Aung's hope may be gone but she perseveres for a Burma freed from the cold hand of the police who rule by the hammer this once prosperous and gentle country and have driven it into stony darkness. The ruling military junta enrich themselves with exports to China and the world's second largest production of opium at the expense of 48,000,000 slaves. How can a ruler be so cruel to his own people? As a Burmese writer said of Than Shwe, "a king does not bother how his slaves are doing. Their death and hardship is not his concern."

Just last Saturday, Aung was freed from "house arrest" in Yangon by her illegitimate captors. Why? Who knows? It's been reported that The National League for Democracy which is led by Aung was thrown a bone by the ruling Generals in order to improve worldwide perception of the kingdom after another sham election was staged. That didn't work very well if that indeed was their objective. Aung came out of the shadows swinging and defiant as ever. Aung "pledges no pullback" was headlines in today's Wall Street Journal.

Upon leaving her "house arrest" headquarters, Aung was asked, "do you fear landing back in house arrest?" She answered without hesitation, "I don't worry about it. I'll do as much as I can while I am free." The saffron-robed monks chanted. The people cried and cheered. The Generals huddled.

Aung struggles and the struggles of Burma remind me somewhat of what happened in South Africa and Nelson Mandela years ago. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for being an anti-apartheid activist against the oppressive Afrikaner National Party. Eventually, he persevered, became President and led his newly-formed country. He and his people were patient too. As he said, "in our country, you must go to jail first to become President."

I suspect as time unfolds, Burma will have its day of rebirth. At some point, China will turn off the spigot to Burma after they don't need them anymore, America's insouciance to Burma will abate, the generals will seek asylum, the military rank and file will flee into the jungles and the people will smile again.

And Aung San Suu Kyi, Buddha willing, will be at home...at peace...free.